Meanwhile, Yelp is ready for your East Village IHOP reviews

Lights unwrapped in Tompkins Square Park

Yesterday, we mentioned that a handful of lights were still covered in Tompkins Square Park from the summer film series that ended on Sept. 8... However, some time late yesterday, someone uncovered the lights...

Melanie at East Village Corner said that a WPIX crew was in the Park yesterday doing a story on this... dunno if the story ever ran. Didn't see it on the WPIX website.

CB3/SLA votes against renewal for Heathers

[Heathers owner Heather Millstone and her attorney face the CB3/SLA committee. Photo by Shawn Chittle]

Heathers on East 13th Street is on the agenda for tonight's CB3/SLA committee meeting for a "renewal with complaint history" ... And after a lengthy debate, the committee has voted to deny the bar's request for the renewal, Shawn Chittle reports from the meeting.

The Times checked in with a lengthy article in January 2007 about the ongoing noise issues between the bar and neighbors.

Nearby neighbors said that Heathers is the worst offender among the bars on the northern stretch of Avenue A (and the side streets). The matter may be taken up with the full Community Board on Sept. 27.

In any event, the State Liquor Authority has the final say in these matters. This doesn't mean that Heathers will close. For instance, the CB3/SLA committee voted to deny TenEleven's license renewal in July, though the SLA later approved it.

Grub Street has more here.

Tonight at the Bean

Third Street at First Street. Photos by Steve Carter. The cafe closed earlier today.

Report: Man charged in rape on East Eighth Street

As we reported Saturday morning, several residents said that a man had attacked a woman on East Eighth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C. The Local reported earlier today that the NYPD arrested a 51-year-old man for raping the woman.

DNAInfo has more graphic details about the horrific assault, which occurred around 8:20 a.m. Saturday. The man, listed as Neil Essex, "allegedly threw the woman to the ground and began punching her in the face ... The complaint claimed that Essex then removed the woman’s pants and raped her while choking her so viciously that she lost consciousness."

As an EV Grieve reader said: "Someone walked out of their building, saw it happening, and called the NYPD. They arrived fairly quickly and apparently the suspect was caught."

Essex is scheduled to next appear in court on Thursday, DNAinfo reported.

Today in 'the bad old days may be here again' trend articles

From the Daily News:

Squeegee men, the aggressive panhandlers who wash your car windows whether you want them to or not, are back.

For some, they're a powerful symbol that the busted economy is bringing back the bad old days.

The Daily News spotted a crew of five squeegee men at 42nd St. and Ninth Ave. Sunday, swarming cars like it was the late 1980s all over again.

The Post noted the return of the squeegee men in September 2008.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The "bad old days" are here again story of the day

Trend alert! The bad old days are here again!

Are the "bad old days" here again...again?

The "bad old days" are here again story of the day

Noted

TheWrap.com via Reuters:

When Gavin DeGraw was attacked for no obviously apparent reason on the streets of New York's East Village last month, it was hard not to flash back to that famous scene from "National Lampoon's Animal House" where John Belushi beat up Stephen Bishop for the mere crime of being a sensitive singer/songwriter.

[Updated] The Bean debuts 'fully stocked' food truck tomorrow on First Avenue

Starting tomorrow, the Bean won't be open at their flagship First Avenue and Third Street location. Instead, the Bean will have "a fully stocked food truck" parked in front of the location at 49 1/2 First Avenue.

The Bean is closing — presumably tonight right now — here to make way for a Starbucks.

The Bean will open new locations on Third Street and Second Avenue and Ninth Street and First Avenue ... as well as First Avenue and Second Street. Until then, they'll have the truck.

Updated:

Dave on 7th passes along this photo of the Bean right now from around 2:45 ... they are packing it in... workers have removed the Bean awning...

Updated:

jdx sends along photos of workers dismantling the cafe...

DNAinfo was on the scene today and spoke with some regulars who are upset the place is closing...

Russo's mural progress

11th Street and First Avenue... Via EV Grieve reader Juan TRED.

And from Dave on 7th...

Previously.

EV Grieve Etc: Mourning Edition

[Seventh Street yesterday by Bobby Williams]

Brisk sales for St. Mark's Bookshop this weekend (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

How brisk? Up 35 percent (Runnin' Scared)

Jane Jacobs on the downtown of tomorrow circa 1958 (Fortune)

Why the NYPD scooters were on patrol in Tompkins Square Park Friday (Neither More Nor Less)

Richard Hell birthday wishes (Flaming Pablum)

A cheeseburger at Jules on St. Mark's (Marty After Dark)

Ray's Pizza on Prince closing (Eater)

A look at the "Living Installation" at ABC No Rio (BoweryBoogie)

New tenants for the Essex Street Market (Diner's Journal)

The death of the old parking meters (Curbed)

A walk through Chinatown (The Gog Log)

Fall foliage day trips (PopSugar NYC)

Patio furniture saved at 331 E. Sixth St.

We've been keeping tabs on 331 E. Sixth St., the circa-1852 townhouse that David Schwimmer may (or may not!) own... here's the start of the renovation.

And, thanks to our friend Goggla, we have a better look at what's left here via a peephole in the plywood.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Workers have quickly removed that pesky townhouse. As Goggla said in an email: "At least they saved the patio furniture..."

And, the enhanced sign remains out front. Kinda funny that no one replaced it. Maybe on back order?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Is David Schwimmer the 'Friends' star who now owns the demolished 331 E. Sixth St. townhouse?

Outrage over total demolition of historic East Sixth Street townhouse

Will Life Cafe be split in two?

As we first reported, Life Cafe on Avenue and 10th Street closed on Sept. 11 ... closed "until further notice." As owner Kathy Kirkpatrick said:

I’m doing this due to issues around building repairs the landlords were supposedly going to complete one year ago. Until the landlords complete the repairs, I will remain closed.

In this week's issue, The Villager has more details. As the paper points out, the sidewalk shed and scaffolding have been covering Life's sidewalk cafe for more than a year. Meanwhile, exterior renovations have yet to start.

Making this more challenging — Life "spans a space belonging to two different buildings with two different landlords whose dispute over the price of the work contract has prevented construction from starting," according to The Villager. (I sort of outlined this in the photo above.)

One of the landlords is Robert Perl of Tower Brokerage, who "was reluctant to explain all the details in the press."

"We’re in the process of trying to work this out," he said. "Life Cafe is an iconic and great restaurant, and I'd love to see it be a part of the East Village for the next 30 years."

Meanwhile, the rumor is that the landlords will simply split up the Life space into two storefronts. Again — just a rumor.

Read the whole Villager piece here.

What are the chances that Andre Balazs shows up for tonight's CB3/SLA meeting?

On Friday, we pointed out that famed hotelier Andre Balazs is taking over the Cooper Square Hotel. Tonight, the Coop appears before the CB3/SLA committee for a liquor license transfer.

A reader asks, "What are the chances that Andre Balazs shows up for the meeting?"

Hmm, haven't thought about it.

On one hand, it would certainly be a neighborly gesture. Show up and make a good-faith appearance. Share what his plans are. Meet the neighbors. Show that he's just one of the guys. Say nice things to Susan Stetzer.

But, in reality, isn't this what minions are for? You really think someone as busy and powerful and Chelsea Handler dating as Andre Balazs is really going to show up for a community board meeting?

(Keith McNally showed up for a Community Board 2 meeting last year. But he just owns restaurants, not hotels.)

Regardless, keep an eye out for him. Here's what he looks like:

Oops! Sorry. That's my 1977 Topps card of Richie Zisk.

Here is Andre on the left with Jordan Catalano Jared Leto from the other week:

[Via]

Meatballs coming to East Ninth Street

Two restaurants have quickly come and gone here at 424 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue ... (Olivia and Sintir.)

Now, a new tenant is taking over the space...

...and they provided a sneak preview Saturday during the block party. Zi Pep's Italian Sorry — we had the wrong name. It's Zi' Pep's Italian.

[Photo by Shawn Chittle]

Speaking of meatballs... a quick look at the Destino-backed Meatball Factory coming to the former Pizza Hut-Nathan's-Arthur Treacher's combo on the northwest corner of 14th Street and Second Avenue ...

Antifolk Festival starts tonight at Sidewalk

From the EV Grieve inbox ...

Antifolk Festival Highlights More than Fifty Performers and Groups, September 19 through 25 at Sidewalk Cafe

After five months in exile, the Antifolk community has returned to its home on Avenue A. The Fall 2011 Antifolk Festival, which takes place September 19 through 25, will feature performances by more than 50 songwriters, groups, and other performers who are part of the extensive network of artists that orbits around Sidewalk Cafe. In addition to showcasing a cross-section of performers from the Sidewalk community, this year’s Festival marks a celebration of the group’s return to its longtime home after the restaurant suddenly closed in March for extensive renovations. Sidewalk Cafe is located at 94 Avenue A at Sixth Street.

Artists
Among those scheduled to play the Festival are Sidewalk veteran and Rough Trade recording artist Jeffrey Lewis; Vincent Cacchione, lead singer of the band Caged Animals; Jason Trachtenburg with his group The Pendulum Swings; and Antifolk pioneer Kirk Kelly. It also marks the return of banjo-player and underground songwriting sensation Debe Dalton after her seven-month recovery from a traumatic hand injury. Dalton is a beloved figure on the scene whose stirring performances have been missed. She will close the Fest on the final candle-lit, all acoustic “Blackout Night,” with a special bill of artists she selected. Among the many dynamically talented performers representing more recent generations of Sidewalk artists are the brilliant songwriter and singer Emily Einhorn, the punk rock and classical xylophone-influenced group Crazy and the Brains; laid back ukelele maestro Morgan Heringer; and the jazz-influenced, piano-based Albert Goold Band.

Fall 2011 Antifolk Festival
Complete Schedule Here
September 19 through 25
Sidewalk Cafe, 94 Avenue A (6th Street)
No cover charge, one drink minimum

How much longer will the lights be covered in Tompkins Square Park?

Workers covered up a handful of the lights in Tompkins Square Park at the start of the Thursday night summer movie series on June 30 ... the last film was the makeup date for "Rosemary's Baby" on Sept. 8.

A reader wonders how much longer those handful of lights (5-6) will remain covered in the Park...

Exclusive: Capital One unveils new ATM at 123 Third Ave.

Sadly, though ... when we took a closer look, the damn think isn't hooked up (plugged in?) yet. So you'll just have to wait for your comprehensive review.

Week in Grieview: Life closes, the elephant poses

[Ninth Street yesterday by Bobby Williams]

We were first to report that Life Cafe had closed (Sunday)

The Free Willie Nelson catches on fire (Monday)

The first look inside Tompkins Square Bagels (Thursday)

The Night Owl Cafe lives again at Sophie's (Wednesday)

We looked at the Union Square elephant (Friday)

Andre "Boom Boom" Balazs is taking over the Cooper Square Hotel (Friday)

The city doesn't care to preserve 316 E. Third St. (Thursday) or 135 Bowery (Friday)

Starbucks taking over the Bean space on First Avenue (Wednesday)

More on the future of St. Mark's Bookshop (Thursday)

Day trippers: Picture yourself in a park under Delancey

The story people seem to talking about at the moment comes courtesy of New York magazine, where three "urbanist entrepreneurs" share their idea for the long-abandoned trolley terminal under Delancey Street ... (Read more about the trolley terminal here.)

The men want to turn it into the High Line. Except that this strip of urban greenery would be underground. Called Delancey Underground, "but will inevitably be known as the Low Line." Says one of the developers: “We’re channeling sunlight the way they did in ancient Egyptian tombs, but in a supermodern way.”

Take a look for yourself... very Middle-earthy...

It's not the worst idea ever. It just seems like it. Still, love the renderings... An accordion player! And an aspiring Kardashian in short shorts...

You can see all this for yourself on Wednesday during a CB3 meeting...

Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee
Wednesday, September 21 at 6:30pm -- University Settlement, Speyer Hall - 184 Eldridge St (btwn Rivington & Delancey Sts)

1. Discussion of EIS draft scoping document
2. Green Space Under Delancey Street: Presentation of a concept for the abandoned Williamsburg Trolley Terminal below Delancey Street: using innovative solar technology to create a sizable underground community park

Tantshoyz Yiddish Dance Party in Tompkins Square Park this afternoon

[Dave on 7th]

Today at 3 in Tompkins Square Park:

Tantshoyz Yiddish Dance Party featuring the music of Grammy-winning trumpeter Frank London of The Klezmatics and his Klezmer Brass All-Stars with guest Yiddish singers Eleanor Reissa and Joanne Borts. Dancing will be led by Jill Gellerman. Followed by a set of Latin jazz by The Arturo O'Farrill Sextet. (Via)